Exclusive | Glen Davis: 'I have people believing in me'

It prompts him to think about how he could be helping his teammates and about all that's gone wrong for him this season: the left-foot fracture that has kept him out of 14 consecutive games (and counting) and the left shoulder dislocation that kept him out of 11 other games.

He's trying to focus on the positive.

"They're looking for me to come back better — you know, a better player," he said Saturday in his first interview since he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on Jan. 30.

"So I just try to look at that stuff and just build on that. How can I get there? I have people believing in me. I've just got to get the work done. It was a really unlucky year this year as far as just injuries. I've got to concentrate on getting my body right."

Davis, who has been doing a lot of swimming lately, emerged from the Magic's Amway Center practice facility Saturday with his surgically repaired foot in a walking boot. That boot is expected to come off in about two weeks, and he can start ramping up his rehabilitation program then.

This season wasn't supposed to be about walking boots, a fractured bone and a dislocated shoulder.

It was supposed to be the season Davis, a 6-foot-9 power forward, emerged as an everyday starter and as a team leader.

Everything was going so well — for him and his team — until he hurt his shoulder in the final minute of a win on Dec. 19 that improved the team's record to 12-13.

The team has gone 4-30 after that night.

One of those losses occurred on Jan. 30 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Several minutes into the game, as the Magic were transitioning into their offense, Davis and Knicks guard Iman Shumpert tangled their feet.

"I was running, and the next thing you know, my foot was, like, to the side for some reason," Davis recalled. "I probably stepped on somebody's foot and broke my bone."

It seems unlikely that Davis will play again this season, although team officials haven't ruled it out.

In the meantime, Davis hopes some good will come from the team's on-court recent struggles.

"When I look at the game, I want to see bumps and bruises," he said.

"I want to see guys who are going through the grit of the NBA and are understanding what it takes to win, and that's what these guys are doing now. This time right here for them is unbelievable because next year you can't sit here and tell me with the way we worked and the way we played, we won't be a better team because of these guys and their approach."

Nelson practices

On Saturday, Jameer Nelson practiced for the first time since he bruised the patellar tendon in his left knee on Feb. 20.

There's a possibility he'll play against the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, although he's listed on the team's official injury report as "doubtful."

"I feel a lot better," Nelson said. "I'm good. I'm not sure if I'm playing [Sunday], but I guess I've got to see how I react in the morning."

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.